Abiding in Him

The last 2 weeks I have been memorizing Psalm 1 and it is amazing how the Lord has used this verse in my life. I have read it several places, heard it referenced to several times, and been directed to it many times myself. It has opened up my eyes to many things and one of them is memorization oddly enough and its importance in the life of a Christian. In verse 2 my heart began stirring on what it meant to meditate on the word of God day and night and after listening to a sermon by John Piper on this verse I have been lead to a more consistent and constant life in memorization. The idea of memorization for me is painful and unpleasant in and of itself but memorization of the word is powerful and I would say necessary for the Christian the growing Christian. If we do not allow our faith to feed on the word of God not just in reading but in memorizing and meditating then it will be missing nurishment that it needs and will not grow. I am convinced of this and so have made it a part of my daily spiritual walk.

Psalm 119:11

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

After reading this verse and many others referring to the importance of storing up His word in our hearts. Here listen to these and think on them for a moment:

Joshua 1:7-8

Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

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John 15:1-11

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

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Psalm 37:28-31

For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints.They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.
The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.

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Hebrews 5:13-14

for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

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Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you,' and "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"

Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'"

Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

I am taking this next week to log my reaction to the behavior of my children, my husband, my friends, my mistakes, and to evaluate my attitude towards all of these and all of the things that I do through out each day. My hope is to collect a better idea of the areas in my life that I need to grow spiritually in and need to store the word of God in my heart to enable me to triumph over them and live a more peaceful life in Christ. At the end of the week I will have a list of scriptures to store up in this year 2007 and will be memorizing at least 1 a week. If you have a desire to join my please leave me a comment and we will venture in this together!!

JOYfully in Him,

Kelli